Phuket Wan wants to know why mysterious deaths and accidents are rarely investigated in Thailand, such as the One Two Go airline crash last year, the scuba boat disaster and few months ago, and now the deaths of two young travelers last week. Cover up, incompetence, or the need to protect the tourism industry? I'd say, probably a combo of all three.
WE ARE no closer to knowing what killed two young tourists in strange circumstances on Phi Phi, and we hope the answer comes soon.
One important aspect that springs from the Laleena Guesthouse tragedy is the need for people to know precisely what took place, as soon as possible. In some quarters within the tourism industry in Thailand (and elsewhere) the first reaction probably still is to keep the truth from the public.
Phuketwan has been told more than once that an article should not be written '' because if this gets out, it will damage the tourism industry.'' Well, that just isn't so. What's far more damaging is when people are not told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but.
The best philosophy for authorities everywhere these days is to come up with answers as soon as possible, and to act to make sure that the mishap is not repeated. It has to be said, though, that on recent experience, there are still authorities at all levels who seem to ascribe to the misguided ''Tell Them Nothing'' theory. This applies often in small communities of the Phi Phi kind, where the instinct seems to be to say nothing for the collective good of the local industry.
We are not suggesting this is the case in Phi Phi right now, only that the cover-up still seems to be viewed as a satisfactory solution by some similar communities. As a matter of course, an almost constant stream of comments and emails comes our way, suggesting that Phuketwan is in league with the devil and bent on destroying tourism.
We are not. We want Phuket and the Andaman region to prosper, but we are sure prosperity will only come with the gradual adoption of international standards of safety and security for residents and visitors. That's why we paid such close attention to the discovery of deadly box jellyfish in the region, and were pleasantly surprised to see the local reaction. Instead of trying to pretend there was no potential problem, hoping the box jellyfish would simply go away, Phuket's marine biologists raised the issue publicly. In doing so, they won local government support for a coastal warning system. Along the way, the broader issue of water safety was raised, and prevention of drownings now seems to be being looked at in a much more practical way. The box jellyfish are being thoroughly researched, too.
Other issues, though, still need public explanations. The latest mysterious deaths on Phi Phi require answers quickly. Delay will lead to a decline in public confidence and a turn-off in tourism.
The strange point is that only people in those two rooms were affected, side by side, at a guesthouse where, according to all accounts, everything is kept scrupulously clean.
The Bangkok epidemiologist who did some on-site tests found nothing, or so he told us. He later told Phuketwan, however, that he was no longer able to comment, and that any response would have to come from his superior in Bangkok. When we called, the superior was not available.
While there may be a logical explanation for this, we can't help being reminded of other instances where the shining light of public disclosure has yet to penetrate.
Just two months ago, a dive boat sank off Phuket's west coast, and six tourists and the Thai cook drowned. Although the mishap raised some profound questions about the safety of everyone who travels on boats in the Andaman region, it is our impression that very few answers will ever be forthcoming. Why was there no weather warning? Why did the boat sink without a May Day call? Why did rescuers fail to send up a helicopter that would have found survivors rapidly? Was this boat, almost brand new, built to withstand Phuket's wildest weather? Eight weeks on, the insurance money has been paid to the dive company and a lone Phuket City policeman is continuing the investigation, along with his other duties.
In many parts of the world, there would have been an immediate public inquiry by a judge or a coroner, and all the important questions would have been asked and answered by now. The dive industry should be back with confidence, but it won't be until the safety of passengers can be assured.
Then we come to the big one, the crash of a One Two Go holiday flight at Phuket airport on September 16, 2007. Ninety people, many of them tourists, died. Forty survived. It seems hard to believe, but the full official account of what took place has yet to be released. It has been in the hands of the authorities in Bangkok for months now. Whenever we check, bureaucrats are ''still working on the final wording.'' Occasionally, responsibility for the report changes, from one department to another.
This crash took place at an airport, not in the jungle or at sea. The pieces were all there, along with the black boxes. There should be no delay. Meanwhile, survivors and the relatives of those who died are simply left to wonder, even though it is generally suspected that pilot error and bad weather played significant roles.
Would it be good to get that report out in public so the airline and the public can digest the information and move on? Yes, we think it would.
Will there still be unanswered questions and uncertainty for some time to come, following seven deaths, about safety on the seas in bad weather off Phuket? Yes, we think so.
Will the authorities tell us all as rapidly as they can about what caused the so-far unexplained deaths of the two tourists on Phi Phi? We hope so.
Another interview with Jill's boyfriend here. He is originally from the Bay Area, but now lives in Seattle.
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